Dr. Tia M. Rains is Vice President of Science, Innovation & Corporate Affairs at Ajinomoto Health & Nutrition North America, Inc., where she oversees the R&D, marketing and communications teams for the food ingredient division. Since joining the organization in 2018, she has spearheaded the effort to change the inaccurate and xenophobic-based perception of monosodium glutamate (MSG) in North America. Prior to joining Ajinomoto, she held various roles within the food and beverage industry, including Kraft Foods, the American Egg Board, and Merieux Nutrisciences. She has a PhD in Nutritional Sciences from University of Illinois-Urbana/Champaign and a BS in Food Science and Nutrition from Arizona State University.